Diabetes Bioreactor takes over insulin production

Implanted bioreactor produces insulin in the body

02/27/2014

With the help of a newly developed bioreactor, which takes over the function of the pancreas, the treatment of type 1 diabetes could be significantly improved in the future. Scientists at the University Hospital Dresden have successfully used an artificial pancreatic system to treat a patient with type 1 diabetes in a worldwide unique test. „ To do so, they implanted a bioreactor with human islet cells, which reliably produced insulin for around one year“, so the message from the University Hospital.

The treatment of type 1 diabetes patients, who suffer from life-threatening fluctuations (see high blood sugar, low blood sugar) of their sugar budget despite drug therapy, could in the future significantly improve with the new bioreactor. Because so far remained for those affected one „Pancreatic organ and islet cell transplantation are the only ways to replace the insulin-producing beta cells“, reports the University Hospital Dresden. These treatments have always been associated with the long-term use of immunosuppressive drugs, which made patients more susceptible to infections or other potential side effects such as increased risk of cancer, the UNKN said. „So far, the treatment was only for people who meet very specific medical criteria“, explain the researchers. His current results have the team around Professor. Stefan R. Bornstein, Director of the Medical Clinic III at the University Hospital Dresden, in the journal „Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences“ (PNAS).

Improved treatment options for type 1 diabetes
The scientists implanted a small, flat box containing islet cells in the type 1 diabetes patient. The special can protects the donor cells from attacks by the immune system and insulin could nevertheless enter the body, write Professor Bornstein and colleagues. With the novel therapy and the pancreatic system, the „in transplantations necessary immunosuppression superfluous.“ Although further studies are needed before a larger number of patients can benefit from this innovative therapy. However, researchers are confident that their future development will significantly improve the treatment options for type 1 diabetes. „We estimate that in five years the system will be a therapy option in the treatment of diabetes“, emphasizes Professor Bornstein. Nobel Laureate for Medicine Professor Andrew V. Schally of the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami, who is part of the research network with the scientists from Dresden, evaluated the development of the artificial pancreatic system as a success of „historical significance.“

No immunosuppressants and donor organs required
Decisive for the success of the bioreactor, according to the researchers, the controlled oxygenation of the cells contained. In this way, they would stay active and continue to produce insulin. The supply of oxygen is still a bit expensive, but the scientists are working on improvements in the applicability. Theoretically, in their process could in the future „also pig insulin-producing cells can be used without being rejected by the human organism“, write the Bornstein and colleagues. Many more people with diabetes than before could benefit from islet cell transplantation in this way. „The recipient of donor cells would no longer have to take immunosuppressants for life and one could avoid the problem of missing donor organs“, emphasized Professor Bornstein. (Fp)